COLUMN: Winery receives national exposure

Tyler Harlton was recently featured on the Food Bloggers of Canada website, with an interesting piece on the strange route he took to starting TH Wines.

The winery, with its urban location and by hand philosophy is a mix of the traditional and the modern.

New businesses

This month we have a variety of new businesses to provide services to our community.

Elemental Psychotherapy and Support Services offer services to empower people with greater awareness, self-esteem and body acceptance to promote long-term health, happiness and freedom from dieting and eating disordered behaviours.

Ivan Huang is a web-based contractor specializing in computerized designing in landscaping and construction.

The Pure Green Cleaning Service provides janitorial and other cleaning services.

Grumpy Granny’s Glasswork is an internet based business that provides glass beads, jewellery, hummingbird feeders, and other glass ornaments.

Heidi McKelvey Photography brings seven years of photographic experience to help capture family memories, specializing in maternity and newborn sessions.

New name

Big O Tires in Summerland is under a new banner, as it recently became part of the Integra Tire Auto Centre network.

Brian and Carrie Tameling are still onboard managing the auto centre, and providing services including tires, maintenance, mechanical, and automotive repair.

New owners

Change is also underway as Sonoran Estate Winery and the Windmill Bed and Breakfast have new owners, Summerland Estate Ltd.

Former owners, Ada and Arjan Smits, are still helping out with front of house for the time being and will be answering calls and e-mails, taking bookings and looking after any clients that may like to visit the winery.

New team

members

Prairie Valley Lodge welcomed Jade Louise Burt as their new Licensed Manager in April this year from the UK. Jade arrives with eight years of qualifications and experience in nursing support, personal support and managing adult care in private care environments.

Jade has been busy employing a large, new staff of LPNs, at the Lodge, to ensure a high staff to resident ratio of professional nursing care 24/7, and achieve the fullest potential of every resident at Prairie Valley Lodge.

Okanagan Crush Pad introduced two new members to the team this month. Duncan Billing will take the lead as Director of Viticulture, and Rebecca Mckinney joins them as Director of Sales and Promotions. Both Duncan and Rebecca bring years of expertise in their fields, and we are delighted to have them on the OCP team.

Work experience

Summergate Winery has often provided young people the opportunity of having a first job working for the Stohlers on the Prairie Valley vineyard. However, this year when two of their children were ready to have a summer job, the Stohlers decided to teach the students more than vineyard work.

Each youth applicant had to put together a resume and go for an interview to help them learn life skills.

Artist expands

Will Enns has expanded his painting repertoire to include art on oak wine barrel staves. Each painting is a unique original, as it cannot be digitally reproduced.

Will has also recently started a humorous and informative blog on his work called Okanagan Wine Art.

Foundation

appointment

Christine Coletta of Okanagan Crush Pad was recently named chair of the B.C. Hospitality Foundation’s Board.

Christine is a founder of the Foundation, which was formed in 2006 to help long-time wine agent Michael Willingham with the money he needed for medical help.

This led to the establishment of a trust fund that could be used to help anyone within the food service, beverage, and hospitality industry that required extraordinary support due to illness or accident. Christine also currently sits on the board of PADS (Pacific Assistance Dogs Society).

New products and services

Dominion Cider has been hard at work in their first year of business producing their dry apple cider. But last month they branched out with a limited-batch Ginger Cider that was made by adding real ginger to their crisp, dry apple cider.

Cherry Tree Quilts is taking to the water next year with their first Alaska Quilt Cruise along the Inside Passage.

The Kettle Valley Steam Railway has a 2017 calendar out that features beautiful photos of the Spirit of Summerland in all seasons.

The calendar is available for purchase both at the railway station and in our Visitor Centre.

Vicky Jones is the communications and membership coordinator at the Summerland Chamber of Commerce.

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